Newtown in Sydney has long been famous for its delicious cruelty-free cafés and restaurants, but could it be about to get its first vegan street?

PETA has sent a letter to Sydney’s lord mayor, Clover Moore, asking her to change the name of Newtown’s Egan Street to “Vegan Street”. Changing the name of the Inner West street would reflect the growth of the area’s ethically minded community and could even save the city council money.

Newtown is well known for having a large number of vegan restaurants, so changing Egan Street’s name to “Vegan Street” would not only promote healthy, eco-friendly eating and kindness to animals but also support local businesses.

As the street’s signs are regularly altered by locals to read “Vegan St”, this move would also save the council the cost of replacing or cleaning the signs because of this vandalism.

The council has told PETA that it costs around $200 to replace the sign each time and that it’s considered erecting a taller pole or even removing the sign altogether.

Adding one letter would be a win for everybody, including the 500 million land animals who are killed every year for their flesh in Australia. They’re strung upside down and their throats are slit, often while they’re still conscious.

The proposed name change would also make a strong environmental statement. Animal agriculture is a leading cause of climate change and environmental degradation around the world – including in Australia, where it’s responsible for 52 per cent of methane emissions. Whether for a barbecue or a brunch, vegan meals offer the easiest and most effective way to take a bite out of climate change!